40" diameter, 80' tall douglas tree going down... how do I make bowls with it?

[Cyrille de Brebisson]

Hello,

I am not an expert woodturner (more a low lever intermediate), but my neighbourgh douglas fir, 80' tall and 40" diameter is dead, and will be cut on monday.

My neighbourghs want me to make a bowl for each of their kids (7!) as a memento...

The bowls will likely be salad bowl type, 10" diameter by 5" tall...

What do I do????

should I plan to have the bowls concentric with the tree (ie, the axis of the bowl being parallel with the fibers. with the tree width, there is plenty enough room to cut the bowl away from the pit) or the other way around?

Any advices wouldbe GREATLY apreciated!!!

mostly, how do I avoid cracking! Where in the tree do I get my blanks from (I know that I do not want to be anywhere neer the pit or the edges...), but I do not now anymore than that...

thanks, Cyrille

[Joe]

Post to rec.crafts.woodturning. Lots of experience there to help you with your question.

[HeyBub]

I'd buy the bowls and tell him they came from the tree. You might even make a small profit.

[Matt]

While I am also not a turner, and cannot suggest how to turn, I can suggest a strategy .. With a tree that big, you should be able to obtain enough stock to practice.

Some of your considerations are also going to be how to treat / season the tree and how long the process will take. I suggest that research how to prepare and store the wood, and prepare such a space.

[Steve Turner]

Well I can't suggest how to turn either, and I *am* a Turner.